Eight hospitals in the Chicago area may no longer be in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois come this summer, potentially disrupting care for many Illinois patients.
The hospitals, which span Chicago and the suburbs, are owned by California-based system Prime Healthcare. Prime purchased the eight former Ascension hospitals in 2025, and says contract negotiations with the largest health insurer in the state remain ongoing.
“Prime Healthcare hospitals and physicians currently remain in-network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), and we are actively engaged in negotiations to reach a resolution,” an emailed statement from Prime Healthcare said. “Our priority is always our patients, ensuring access to care and continuity of services.”
The statement added that negotiations are routine as agreements are renewed, and that the hospital system has been “engaged in good-faith negotiations” with the insurer. Prime’s current contract with BCBSIL has been in effect since March 1, 2025, which temporarily extended the prior Ascension contract terms as negotiations continued.
According to a March 10 notice posted to Prime Healthcare’s website, BCBSIL distributed a letter to its members stating that Prime Healthcare hospitals and physicians may leave the BCBSIL network on June 1, 2026. Prime’s statement sent to NBC Chicago said “BCBSIL may have prematurely issued termination notices that unfortunately created confusion for patients.”
“Prime Healthcare remains hopeful that BCBSIL will work collaboratively with us to finalize an agreement that prioritizes patients and preserves access to care across Illinois,” the system said in its posted notice.
The California-based hospital system also said that it serves patients regardless of their insurance coverage, and that it does not balance bill patients.
“We believe strongly in protecting patients from balance bills and surprise bills,” Prime’s emailed statement continued. “We do not bill patients for care provided and not paid by insurance, whether it is for contracted or non-contracted care.”
In a statement sent to NBC Chicago, BCBSIL said Prime Healthcare notified the insurer that their hospitals will leave the BCBSIL networks on June 1, 2026, and that the timing of their notification to members is standard practice based on state and federal requirements.
“Our customers are our priority,” the statement said. “As the oldest and largest customer-owned health insurer in Illinois for 90 years, our goal is to protect our members’ and customers’ access to quality health care at reasonable and sustainable rates.”
The eight Prime Hospital locations involved in the negotiations are below:
- Holy Family Medical Center – Des Plaines
- Mercy Medical Center – Aurora
- Resurrection Medical Center – Chicago
- Saint Francis Hospital – Evanston
- Saint Joseph Medical Center – Joliet
- Saint Joseph Hospital – Elgin
- St. Mary’s Hospital – Kankakee
- Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital – Chicago
from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/eAxCmqV
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